It is a good carry gun. Simple and reliable. Now how comfortable you are with it's size is up to you. It is smaller than a breadbox and bigger than a book of matches.
The $279 isn't a bad deal. The shop around here had it for $259 after the rebate, by far the best i've seen... that's if you want to drive to Alaska.
I think mine was $320 when I got it a couple of years ago.
I have the .40, and cause of how it's weighted, the .40 does have some snap, but nothing too bad.
For a first center fire, plinker, could be carry, all around pistol, it is a great deal.